Lilas

This is the latest project I started. I named it Lilas. Its official name is "Gilet manches courtes #136" from the Catalogue Créations 2005/06 - Bergère de France.

In its former life, it was a a debardeur I had started in 2007. Two weeks ago, it was still alive. But then, I frogged it. It was definitely pretty but I've known for a long time that it would never fit - but kept lying to myself that it would... So I finally frogged it and looked into magazines, catalogues and Ravelry - this is a lot of fun too! - for a new pattern I could knit with 7 skeins of Coton Fifty from Bergère de France.

One of the pattern that is in my queue is Henley Perfected by Connie Chang Chinchio. I think it's a very pretty piece of clothing. I considered it very seriously. However, I think this pattern calls for a cold wintery color more like green or blue. Not lilas. And probably a yarn different from Coton Fifty.

Here is the magazine photo of what my "petit gilet" will look like and then, my progress (I took the picture one week ago). It is the perfect mindless knitting project. I really enjoy it at night to relax while watching TV.

Twilight

I am a Twilighter. I've read the first 2 books so far. I love the story. It is so romantic.

Look at this! Do you see what I see?

Ethermal

In September 2007, I saw this from the talented duo at TeamKnit. It is simple, polyvalent and comfortable. Everyone who knit Thermal seem to be very satisfied with the final result.

After reading all these good comments, I decided that I wanted one as well and ordered the required yarn.

I decided that black would be a great color. I wear a lot of black. Have you ever knit with black?

That is, for many months, I've been working on Ethermal, oops, I mean Thermal. I've also un-knit it many times due to my lack of attention. Despite it, it is almost complete as we speak. The body is all knit as well as the first sleeve. Below is the second sleeve. I keep the rest for when I will post on the finished product.

When will that be? That is the question...

In the last two and a half years...

Before I start blogging about my current and future projects, I would like to take a few moments for a quick retrospective.

I've been knitting since February 2006. I learned with Knitting for Dummies which I think is an excellent book for self-taught people. I think knitting is an amazing hobby. Yarn is just beautiful and comes in so many colors and textures. Also, there are so many patterns and technics to learn. I'm so glad I got acquainted with this art!

My favorite project up to now has been the Lilian Tank Top by Amanda Reed. Here is my own version. I knit it very fast. I think it is a very nice piece of garnment. I however wonder how it would come out with a slightly more delicate and shiny yarn... But don't get me wrong, the TLC Cotton Plus Solid in blue gives very good results!

Another project I really enjoyed making with TLC Cotton Plus Solid - and blue is my favorite color - is the Irish Hiking Scarf. I thought that cables were difficult. They look difficult. It is not only easy but adds a lot of personality to a piece of clothing. I was very proud of myself.




















And finally, my first completed project, with the help of my mom to sew it: this nice and simple Baby's Hoodie from Bernat. I offered it to my good friend Micheline for her baby girl. I hoped it would be pretty enough to give as a gift and I thouht it was. Also, I found out that my mom turned out to be an excellent teacher for sewing. She is an excellent knitter as well (although I learned from a book because we leave far far away)!

Noro Striped Scarf

As I mentionned in my previous post, the Noro Striped Scarf is the project that brought me back to knitting.
















Knitting this scarf has been a pure pleasure. I would knit it again anytime. To tell you the truth, I really hope to knit another one soon!

I tried as much as possible to keep it for knit nights since it is really simple to knit (that must be why at every knit night I make a silly mistake). The colors of the Noro Silk Garden are definitely "yummy"! The blues, the browns, the pinks, the greens, ... all of them! Once you see another color coming, you just can't stop knitting. I kept saying "these are the last two rows for tonight"! Truly addictive...

Well, enough writing, here it is:




















Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden
Needles: US 6 / 4.0 mm
Start to finish: October 2008 - December 2008
For: Me
Notes: I followed the instructions on Brooklyntweed's blog, except for the needle size. I also knit quite tight so it is a little bit narrower than the other ones I've seen.

What happened?

One of the reason why I decided to start blogging again is to share my work and ideas with other knitters.

In the last couple of weeks, I met a bunch of terrific ladies who also knit in the north shore of Montreal and in the area. We are Tricot Rive-Nord on Ravelry or Laval Knits on Yahoo. We meet twice a month in a Cafe in Rosemere.

I consider myself a beginner or intermediate knitter. I don't know many people who knit. Hence, the bi-monthly meetings allow me to discuss with my new friends and discover new yarns, patterns, techniques, etc. It is so interesting! I keep my eyes and ears wide open!

I also suspect that because of these ladies, I will soon have a stash. Until recently, I always thought that I had no stash and the expression "knitting from my stash" didn't have a meaning for me. So far, I've limited myself to buying the yarn that is necessary for the projects I choose. Until now, I've been very disciplined. But seeing and touching yarn for real can be dangerous I guess...

Anyways, before Christmas, I was surfing the internet to find a pattern for a scarf for a friend who asked me if I could teach her how to knit. That's when I saw the gorgeous Noro Striped Scarf on Brooklyntweed's blog. I had seen it before, but this time, it got in my mind and stayed in. The following week, I was at Mouliné to buy the 4 skeins of yarn that were required. And that was it... The "flame" is back!

Finally, I decided to come back to blogging because I missed the lovely comments of the other knitters who came to visit my blog, once in a while, and who live too far to come knit in Rosemere!

I hope to read your comments, suggestions, ideas, etc. again soon!

Happy New Year 2009!

Dear knitters,

I've been away for a few months. I thought that I had lost interest in knitting! Duh!?! It was just summer! I was a little drastic too. I deleted my former blog, posts and everything completely. So, I'm starting this blog again from scratch.

Now, that winter is back, I'm knitting and surfing on Ravelry more than ever. BTW, my Ravelry ID is "anyonecanknit".

Last weekend, I frogged a little debardeur I started in 2007 and started a new project with the yarn.

Last night, I bought some new yarn at Effiloché to knit my first mittens.

Also, I will most likely (we'll see!) finish Thermal in a few weeks and knit something new with the remaining yarn. What will that be?

What I'm trying to say here is that I would really love to share all of it with people who get what that means: YOU!

So, I'll be back soon... Stay tuned!

Sincerely,
Anyonecanknit